Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Sparrow \Spar"row\, n. [OE. sparwe, AS. spearwa; akin to OHG.
sparo, G. sperling, Icel. sp["o]rr, Dan. spurv, spurre, Sw.
sparf, Goth. sparwa; -- originally, probably, the quiverer or
flutterer, and akin to E. spurn. See {Spurn}, and cf.
{Spavin}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) One of many species of small singing birds of
the family {Fringillig[ae]}, having conical bills, and
feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also
{finches}, and {buntings}. The common sparrow, or house
sparrow, of Europe ({Passer domesticus}) is noted for its
familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young,
and its fecundity. See {House sparrow}, under {House}.
Note: The following American species are well known; the
{chipping sparrow}, or {chippy}, the {sage sparrow},
the {savanna sparrow}, the {song sparrow}, the {tree
sparrow}, and the {white-throated sparrow} (see
{Peabody bird}). See these terms under {Sage},
{Savanna}, etc.
2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several small singing birds somewhat
resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the
European hedge sparrow. See under {Hedge}.
He that doth the ravens feed, Yea, providently
caters for the sparrow, Be comfort to my age!
--Shak.
{Field sparrow}, {Fox sparrow}, etc. See under {Field},
{Fox}, etc.
{Sparrow bill}, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a
sparable.
{Sparrow hawk}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A small European hawk ({Accipiter nisus}) or any of
the allied species.
(b) A small American falcon ({Falco sparverius}).
(c) The Australian collared sparrow hawk ({Accipiter
torquatus}).
Note: The name is applied to other small hawks, as the
European kestrel and the New Zealand quail hawk.
{Sparrow owl} (Zo["o]l.), a small owl ({Glaucidium
passerinum}) found both in the Old World and the New. The
name is also applied to other species of small owls.
{Sparrow spear} (Zo["o]l.), the female of the reed bunting.
[Prov. Eng.]
Fox \Fox\, n.; pl. {Foxes}. [AS. fox; akin to D. vos, G. fuchs,
OHG. fuhs, foha, Goth. fa['u]h?, Icel. f?a fox, fox fraud; of
unknown origin, cf. Skr. puccha tail. Cf. {Vixen}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A carnivorous animal of the genus {Vulpes},
family {Canid[ae]}, of many species. The European fox ({V.
vulgaris} or {V. vulpes}), the American red fox ({V.
fulvus}), the American gray fox ({V. Virginianus}), and
the arctic, white, or blue, fox ({V. lagopus}) are
well-known species.
Note: The black or silver-gray fox is a variety of the
American red fox, producing a fur of great value; the
cross-gray and woods-gray foxes are other varieties of
the same species, of less value. The common foxes of
Europe and America are very similar; both are
celebrated for their craftiness. They feed on wild
birds, poultry, and various small animals.
Subtle as the fox for prey. --Shak.
2. (Zo["o]l.) The European dragonet.
3. (Zo["o]l.) The fox shark or thrasher shark; -- called also
{sea fox}. See {Thrasher shark}, under {Shark}.
4. A sly, cunning fellow. [Colloq.]
We call a crafty and cruel man a fox. --Beattie.
5. (Naut.) Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar;
-- used for seizings or mats.
6. A sword; -- so called from the stamp of a fox on the
blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox. [Obs.]
Thou diest on point of fox. --Shak.
7. pl. (Enthnol.) A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs,
formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin;
-- called also {Outagamies}.
{Fox and geese}.
(a) A boy's game, in which one boy tries to catch others
as they run one goal to another.
(b) A game with sixteen checkers, or some substitute for
them, one of which is called the fox, and the rest the
geese; the fox, whose first position is in the middle
of the board, endeavors to break through the line of
the geese, and the geese to pen up the fox.
{Fox bat} (Zo["o]l.), a large fruit bat of the genus
{Pteropus}, of many species, inhabiting Asia, Africa, and
the East Indies, esp. {P. medius} of India. Some of the
species are more than four feet across the outspread
wings. See {Fruit bat}.
{Fox bolt}, a bolt having a split end to receive a fox wedge.
{Fox brush} (Zo["o]l.), the tail of a fox.
{Fox evil}, a disease in which the hair falls off; alopecy.
{Fox grape} (Bot.), the name of two species of American
grapes. The northern fox grape ({Vitis Labrusca}) is the
origin of the varieties called {Isabella}, {Concord},
{Hartford}, etc., and the southern fox grape ({Vitis
vulpina}) has produced the {Scuppernong}, and probably the
{Catawba}.
{Fox hunter}.
(a) One who pursues foxes with hounds.
(b) A horse ridden in a fox chase.
{Fox shark} (Zo["o]l.), the thrasher shark. See {Thrasher
shark}, under {Thrasher}.
{Fox sleep}, pretended sleep.
{Fox sparrow} (Zo["o]l.), a large American sparrow
({Passerella iliaca}); -- so called on account of its
reddish color.
{Fox squirrel} (Zo["o]l.), a large North American squirrel
({Sciurus niger}, or {S. cinereus}). In the Southern
States the black variety prevails; farther north the
fulvous and gray variety, called the {cat squirrel}, is
more common.
{Fox terrier} (Zo["o]l.), one of a peculiar breed of
terriers, used in hunting to drive foxes from their holes,
and for other purposes. There are rough- and smooth-haired
varieties.
{Fox trot}, a pace like that which is adopted for a few
steps, by a horse, when passing from a walk into a trot,
or a trot into a walk.